The insurance group Resolution was pretty much a lone bright spot among leading shares yesterday, as the FTSE 100 had its worst day for five years and the FTSE 250 registered its largest-ever one-day points fall.

Marianne Barriaux: The FTSE 100 continued its upward march and cleared the 6,500 hurdle for the first time in more than six years, rising 53.8 points to 6,516.2 amid strong M&A activity and rising metals prices.